Florida Vacation Rentals: Casual Cool in Madeira Beach

This strip of beach landed in my vacation scrapbook–if only for one night.

My brother-in-law and his girlfriend planned a stay there for the whole fam: me, my husband and two girls. The adults sipped Coronas (Public drinking is allowed on the beach, but not in parking lots, per city ordinance.), sunbathed, ate fresh Florida grouper at Scully’s at John’s Pass and enjoyed fresh frozen custard on the “boardwalk.” The little ones swam for the first time in the Gulf and spotted a few dolphins.

On Friday morning, we hit the strip of souvenir shops across the street, where I picked up a teal maxi dress and bikini, along with an acrylic “Madeira Beach” magnet emblazoned with a purple pink sunset, dolphins and palm trees. Hey, you have to go home with some Florida kitsch.

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Valerie Moloney is your resident blogger and the Expansion Markets Editor for Citysearch.com, who oddly enough, feels panicked when asked, "What's the best place to eat in Chicago?" or her favorite, "It's my birthday. Where should we go with a party of six?" No stranger to travel--and traveling with kids--she is a young mom who ODs on the Internet when it comes to planning family trips or buying clothes. Here's hoping she finds you the vacation you deserve.